Difficulties in selling an inspirational and aspirational vision in an educational organisation

A vision can be considered as aspirational in being a picture of the future and why people should strive for that future. It should also be sufficiently compelling to inspire action and sustain human effort. An organisation vision is always subjected to change as environmental conditions are always dynamic, which makes selling a vision an uphill struggle for many organisational leaders. This struggle is no different for leaders in an educational organisation. As globalisation sets in, changes in the higher educational arena are inevitable. In the local context, constant changes in government policies can also add to the dynamism of the education system and compel changes to be undertaken by institutional leaders. Nevertheless, educational reform is likely to have common themes. Firstly, customer satisfaction will matter more as competition for student increases and choice becomes more prevalent. Next, the shift from a rule-driven to a results-driven system will intensify, resulting in an expansion of leadership roles and creation of a different culture. Leaders need to be strong to elicit significant change or modify their vision. This paper aims to introduce the common difficulties faced by leaders in selling a vision, particularly in an educational organisation

Examining the Approaches of Customer Segmentation in a Cosmetic Company: A Case Study on L'oreal Malaysia SDN BHD

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to examine the market segmentation approaches available and identify which segmentation approaches best suit for L’Oreal Malaysia. Design/methodology/approach – Questionnaires were distributed to 80 L’Oreal cosmetic users in Malaysia and 55 completed questionnaires were analyzed. Besides, two interviews being conducted at L’Oreal Malaysia office and the result were analyzed too. Findings – The results were as follows. First, analysis of L’Oreal cosmetic users based on segmentation bases available from different age group of users to generating segmentation variable that deemed appropriate to L’Oreal Malaysia. Second, analysis from L’Oreal Malaysia, the company perspectives of segmentation to accurately define the segmentation methods best fit into the company’s marketing program. Practical implications – Although market segmentation is one of the most established concepts in marketing, still there are some shortfalls in the body of research creating a gap between theory and practice which lead to failure in the implementation of segmentation. (Sausen et al., 2005) Nonetheless, segmentation has been extensively used in consumer marketing. Effective segmentation is possible with conditions that segment is measurable, accessible, substantial and homogeneous. Originality/value - The study has originality and values in that segmentation concept have not been studies much in the cosmetic domain in Malaysia

Effect of Escherichia coli vaccination in gilts on piglet performances in a farm in Perak, Malaysia

This study aimed to determine the effect of Escherichia coli (Neocolipor vaccine – Merial) vaccination on neonatal diarrhoea score, growth parameters (average weight per piglet and average daily gain) and neonatal mortality rate in newborn piglets. A field trial was conducted in 35 litters of piglets from gilts selected from a farm in Perak, Malaysia. They were randomly allocated into treatment (16 litters from E. coli vaccinated gilts) and control (19 litters) groups. Body weights of the piglets were determined at days 1, 7, 14 and 21 of age and the episodes of diarrhoea and piglet mortality were monitored daily in each pen. The treatment group had significantly lower neonatal mortality rate, day-one neonatal diarrhoea percentage and diarrhoea in the overall period of 1- 21 days (p0.05) difference in the overall diarrhoea percentages and weekly growth parameters between groups. Some of the limitations of the study include environmental stress, routine and random treatment of piglets with diarrhoea with antimicrobial and biasness towards the control groups, which thereafter may have affected the significance of the diarrhoea score and growth parameters. It is presumed that piglets in the control group experienced severe diarrhoea during the first week of life, leading to the significantly (p<0.05) higher mortality rates. It is also deduced that piglets of the treatment group with diarrhoea that survived the first week have lower growth rates. However, in terms of neonatal mortality, the result is reproducible as it is in agreement with other field trials, which indicate that E. coli vaccination in dams could be an alternative way of moderating mortality due to E. coli. In conclusion, this pilot study showed that E. coli vaccination in gilts significantly reduces first week piglet mortality and diarrhoeal percentages at day-one under farm conditions

Effective design of bean bag as a vibroimpact damper

Shock and Vibration76343-354SHVI

SymmeGuess: Fun beyond Symmetry Learning

Computer application can be used for artistic design and as a means to facilitate the understanding of mathematical concepts. This paper presents a game-based application as a visual learning tool for mathematics and art subjects. The objectives of this application are to enable learners to build their knowledge on symmetry and to explore the beauty of symmetrical patterns with confidence and enjoyment

Effects of Escherichia coli vaccination in gilts on piglet performance in a farm in Perak

This study aimed to observe the effects of Escherichia coli (Neocoliporvaccine – Merial) vaccination on diarrhoea percentages, growth parameters (average weight per piglet and average daily gain) and mortality rate in new-born piglets. A field trial was conducted in 35 litters of piglets from gilts selected from a farm in Perak. They were randomly allocated into Treatment (16 litters from E. coli vaccinated gilts) and Control (19 litters) groups respectively. Body weights of the piglets were measured at days 1, 7, 14 and 21 of age and the episodes of diarrhoea and piglet mortality were monitored daily for each pen. The Treatment group had significantly lower Day 1 neonatal diarrhoea percentage (p 0.05)in the overall diarrhoea percentages (1 - 14 days) and weekly growth parameters between both groups. Environmental stress and inevitable routine treatment of diarrhoea with antimicrobials within the farm may have affected the significance of the diarrhoea percentages and growth parameters in this study. In conclusion, E. coli vaccination in gilts was shown to significantly reduce piglet mortality from Day 1 to Day 7 and neonatal diarrhoeal percentageson1-day-old piglets under typical farm conditions in this pilot study in Malaysia